Predicting 12 WWE Superstars Who Could Potentially Join AEW

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Sasha Banks is obviously unhappy in her current role and has not performed on WWE television since WrestleMania 35 in April. At that pay-per-view, Sasha Banks and her tag team partner, Bayley, dropped the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship to the IIconics, despite being promised a long run with the titles.

Since then, there's been speculation that Sasha would simply sit out the rest of her contract. She unfollowed WWE and began following AEW on Twitter. She continues to post lots of cryptic tweets about following her own path and being brave in the face of adversity.

In recent weeks, there's been rumors that Banks had a sit-down meeting with Vince McMahon, and that she'll be returning to WWE television soon. But this is still a see-it-to-believe-it sort of scenario. 

Should she defect, Banks would immediately legitimize AEW's women's division with her presence.  The amount of money and freedom on the table might be too good to pass up. 

The best tag team wrestlers in the world have reportedly been unhappy with WWE since January, when they asked for their releases and were denied. According to reports, they also turned down lucrative, 5-year WWE contract renewals, which would have paid each of them $500K per year.

A series of humiliating in-ring skits followed. They seemed like proof that WWE Creative was burying the #TopGuys on their way out the door.

But then as quickly as they began, the skits ceased. Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson clinched the Raw Tag Team Championships. They retained those belts during their most recent match against the Usos at Extreme Rules.

Have The Revival had a change of heart? There are no new leaks or rumors. But since we have yet to see a dream match between The Revival and The Young Bucks, lots of wrestling fans are rooting for Dash and Dawson to abandon WWE and go all-in.

Ziggler has a very important role in WWE. Like Kane before him, Ziggler serves as the unofficial "gatekeeper" to the midcard and the main event. He's often a new WWE Superstar's first major victory; a win over Ziggler is an unspoken prerequisite for bigger successes.

But is Dolph satisfied with this role, especially lately? He disappears from WWE television for months at a time, and recently returned after a 4-month layoff to challenge Kofi Kingston at Stomping Grounds. Of course, Dolph lost and continues to lose each week. 

The Dirt Sheets reported that Ziggler signed a new WWE deal last fall, so unless WWE voluntarily releases him, it would be difficult for Ziggler to leave on his own terms. Still, that hasn't stopped people from trying, as the next person on this list demonstrates.

Luke Harper was always built for better things in WWE than what he ended up becoming. Out of everyone in the Wyatt Family stable, Harper was the most talented, despite his relegation to a supporting role. But the situation reached its nadir at this year's WrestleMania 35. WWE booked against Dominik Dijakovic at WrestleMania Axxess, and was a late addition to the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, where he was eliminated by Braun Strowman.

Shortly afterwards, Harper requested his release. However, not only did WWE refuse the request; they added six months to his contract for time off due to injury. Petty? Yes. But it also showed the depths that WWE would stoop to prevent their talent from signing with competitors.

Rusev hasn't been a happy WWE employee for a long time. He is underutilized on television, and his online Twitter persona has taken on an increasingly passive-aggressive, trollish tone. And although it may delight the fans, it probably isn't doing his company stock any favors.

Most recently, Rusev retweeted a Google-centric tweet, discussing the search engine's corporate policy when an active employee dies. It's difficult to view this as anything other than a slam at WWE, which has repeatedly come under fire for not providing health insurance or transportation for its wrestlers.

With rumors that his WWE contract is expiring soon, it wouldn't be surprising if Rusev decides to decline a renewal and try his luck elsewhere.

He would be an incredible get for AEW. Daniel Bryan has both the name recognition and the incomparable wrestling ability to elevate AEW's brand. He and Erik Rowan just lost the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Extreme Rules. His crunchy hipster heel persona has run its course. With so many young, promising talents on the roster, it's difficult to see how Bryan will figure into WWE's main event picture anytime soon.

He's deeply tied into the WWE machine, thanks to his wife, Brie Bella, who stars on WWE co-produced shows Total Bellas and Total Divas. But it's also important to remember that Daniel Bryan nearly left the company before. He was sidelined with an injury in February 2016, and when WWE refused to clear him for in-ring competition, he made it clear that he would be willing to go back to the indys to do what he loved. 

He's since recovered and returned. But should WWE "retire" him again, it's easy to imagine Bryan defecting, especially if he disagreed with the doctors' assessments.

Cesaro has never been afraid to speak about his displeasure with WWE. In July 2016, he cut a shoot promo where he detailed his animosity towards WWE Creative. 

But since then, he's been placated by his well-decorated tag team with Sheamus, The Bar, which he credits with giving him confidence on the mic and keeping his spirits up during times of frustration. But now, the duo has broken up, and Cesaro is currently back on his own, stuck with the task of putting over other, younger Superstars. 

Cesaro still desires a run as WWE Champion. But those chances are currently slim. AEW might give him the spotlight he's looking for.

A member of the long-suffering Riott Squad, Liv Morgan wasn't on WWE television since April's WrestleMania 35, but just returned last week during an appearance on Smackdown. Her frustration has been palpable, as of late. In late April she sent out a Tweet to her fans, asking them to tell WWE that they missed her. And then in early May, she followed up with a "Wanted" poster with her face on it.

She's still relatively new to wrestling, so AEW would need to mentor her and continue her training. But Morgan is the type of young prospect who could pay dividends further down the road, even if not today.

Since being called up to WWE's main roster, Tyler Breeze has largely served as comic relief in a series of backstage "Fashion Police" sketches with fellow WWE Superstar Fandango.

Breeze recently moved back to the NXT development brand, and he seems much happier for it. In an interview with WWE.com, he explained his reasoning:  "I decided to come back because I’m appreciated here. My work is appreciated here, and the crowd appreciates me here."

The backhanded statements are quite obvious. Should Breeze want a completely fresh start, away from the WWE system, AEW might be a decent second option.

Although he's still technically signed with WWE, Lio Rush has so much bad blood with the company, that it's nearly inconceivable that he'll be on WWE television again. Some of it is locker room political nonsense (he refused, as a rookie, to carry an older performer's bags, because he found it degrading), but he also reportedly high-balled WWE officials on contract negotiations and has brought family with him backstage, to the displeasure of the locker room.

His WWE contract reportedly expires in 2020. But even though he's extremely talented, it'll be interesting to see if another wrestling promotion like AEW hires him, after this much messy, public drama.

A former NXT Women's Champion, Ember Moon is yet another superstar in a long line of NXT prospects who have been misused and buried since debuting on the main roster. She is currently involved in a non-title feud with Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose, but she should surely be in the title picture. Until Charlotte Flair, Ember Moon came closer than anyone to breaking Asuka's undefeated streak.

In late June, Moon recently posted a tweet where, among other things, she said, "I am tired of getting up every time I fall and trying to fight the fight I will never be able to win." The letter was addressed to "A."

Athena was Ember's ring name on the indy circuit; perhaps, she's implying that she would be willing to return there? As with Banks, Morgan is talented enough to lead a new women's division in the AEW.